New Delhi: Prominent wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phoghat, and others have staged protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment of female wrestlers. The protesters are demanding WFI President must be arrested. As the ongoing wrestlers’ protest continues till today, here’s what has happened so far.
On January 18, wrestlers assembled at the Jantar Mantar protest location and accused WFI President Singh of sexual harassment. They claimed that since 2012, Brij Bhushan had harassed the female wrestlers. Singh’s resignation and the disbandment of the WFI were sought.
The WFI Chief has been accused of sexual harassment and other offences by the wrestlers. The complainants mentioned incidents that took place between 2012 and 2022, alleging that some of them took place at Brij Bhushan’s official MP’s home in New Delhi and during tournaments held both domestically and internationally.
It was claimed that one of the victims is a minor, earlier this week, in front of the Supreme Court. In their police report, the wrestlers also accused Brij Bhushan of intimidating them unlawfully.
The protesters are demanding for the detainment of WFI Chief Brij Bhushan and book case under POCSO Act and also dismissal from his post.
A six-member oversight committee (OC) has been established to investigate the case. The committee turned in its report on the first week of April. The WFI elections, which were scheduled to take place on May 7, were declared invalid as a result of the fresh protests.
The Police has registered two FIRs against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan on April 28 after informing the Court. The initial FIR was filed in accordance with the POCSO Act and the pertinent IPC sections. A second FIR is filed to conduct thorough inquiries in accordance with applicable sections.
The Police has provided protection to those seven wrestlers. Recently, Priynaka Gandhi met wrestlers and consoled them. She accused the ruling party for not listening to the voice of the wrestlers.